Release Detail

October 1, 1998 - Rowland Has Super Lead And Highest Approval Ever,
Connecticut Voters Tell Quinnipiac College Poll;
He Tops Kennelly In Virtually Every Measure

Connecticut Gov. John Rowland holds a huge 61 - 28 percent lead among registered voters in
his reelection race with his Democratic challenger, U.S. Rep. Barbara Kennelly, according to
a Quinnipiac College Poll released today. Rowland leads among likely voters 69 - 25 percent.

His approval rating has jumped to an all-time high of 75 - 17 percent, topping his
previous high of 71 - 21 percent in a February 18 poll by the independent Quinnipiac College.

In another measure of the incumbent's success, 81 percent of registered voters are
"very satisfied" or "somewhat satisfied" with life in Connecticut, while 18 percent are
"somewhat dissatisfied" or "very dissatisfied." The previous high satisfaction rating was 75
percent in a June 24 Quinnipiac College Poll.

"Gov. Rowland has become the Mark McGwire of Connecticut politics, breaking all
the records and seemingly unstoppable," said Quinnipiac College Poll Director Douglas
Schwartz. "Rowland is achieving his best poll numbers at just the right time, five weeks
before the election.

"Looking past November, Rowland has higher approval ratings than New York Gov.
George Pataki or New Jersey Gov. Christine Todd Whitman, something which could boost his
stature in the national Republican Party.

"Kennelly still is struggling to increase her name recognition. A third of voters do not
know enough about her to have an opinion. Another bad sign for the Kennelly campaign is
that for the first time there are as many negative evaluations of her as positive."

By a 55 - 12 percent margin, voters have a favorable opinion of Rowland, with 25
percent mixed and 7 percent saying they do not know enough to form an opinion. This also is
a high for Rowland.

Kennelly's favorability is split 21 - 22 percent, with 20 percent mixed and 36 percent
saying they do not know enough to form an opinion.

Asked to identify the most important problem facing Connecticut today, voters pointed
to the economy, taxes and education.

No mater what problem they name, 53 percent of registered voters say Rowland would
do a better job handling the problem, while 24 percent say Kennelly will do a better job.

Except for welfare and the poor, and the environment, where they tie, voters expect
Rowland to do a better job than Kennelly on several issues:

Taxes, 60 - 22 percent;

Education, 45 - 36 percent;

Crime, 62 -15 percent;

Welfare and the poor, 42 - 42 percent;

The economy and jobs, 64 - 19 percent:

The environment, 39 - 36 percent, a tie;

Health care, 41 - 36 percent.

"Voters overwhelmingly think Rowland will do a better job on the issues of the
economy and taxes. The Republican incumbent wins on education and ties on the
environment, typically strong issues for Democratic candidates," Schwartz said.

"While Rowland is solidifying his base with 92 percent of all Republicans supporting
him, Kennelly is losing 32 percent of her Democratic base to Rowland."

From September 23 - 28, Quinnipiac College surveyed 1,070 Connecticut registered
voters, including 526 likely voters. The poll has a margin of error of +/- 3 percent for
registered voters and +/- 4.3 percent for likely voters. The Quinnipiac College Poll conducts
public opinion surveys in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut as a public service and for
research.

1. Do you approve or disapprove of the way John Rowland is handling his job as
Governor of Connecticut?

Jun 24
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom 1998

Approve 75% 92% 61% 77% 78% 72% 69%

Disapprove 17 5 27 17 15 18 23

DK/NA 9 3 12 6 8 10 8

6. How much attention have you been paying to this year's campaigns for Governor
and United States Senator? A lot, some, only a little, or none at all?

8. Is your opinion of John Rowland favorable, unfavorable, mixed, or haven't you
heard enough about him?

Jun 24
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom 1998

Favorable 55% 82% 32% 56% 58% 52% 50%

Unfavorable 12 4 21 12 11 14 16

Mixed 25 10 38 25 25 26 28

Haven't heard enough 7 3 9 7 6 8 7

REFUSED 1 1 1 - 1 1 -

9. If the 1998 election for Governor were being held today and the candidates
were John Rowland the Republican and Barbara Kennelly the Democrat, for whom
would you vote?

Jun 24
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom 1998

John Rowland 61% 92% 32% 64% 67% 57% 56%

Barbara Kennelly 28 3 57 23 24 31 32

SOMEONE ELSE(VOL) 1 1 - 1 1 1 2

WON'T VOTE (VOL.) 2 2 1 2 3 1 2

DK/NA 8 2 10 10 5 11 8

9. If the 1998 election for Governor were being held today and the candidates
were John Rowland the Republican and Barbara Kennelly the Democrat, for whom
would you vote? (Likely Voters)

Likely
Voters

John Rowland 69%

Barbara Kennelly 25

SOMEONE ELSE(VOL) 1

DK/NA 6

10. Is your mind made up, or do you think you might change your mind before the
election?

Rowland Kennelly
Voter Voter

Mind made up 66% 64%
Might change mind 32 35

DK/NA 1 1

11. Would you describe your support for John Rowland/Barbara Kennelly as
strongly favoring him, or do you like him/her but with reservations, or do you
support him/her because you dislike Barbara Kennelly/John Rowland?

Rowland Kennelly
Voters Voters

Strongly favor 53% 37%

Like, but with
reservations 40 34

Dislike other
candidate 4 23

DK/NA 2 5

18. In general, how satisfied are you with the way things are going in
Connecticut today? Are you very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat
dissatisfied, or very dissatisfied?

Jun 24
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom 1998

Very satisfied 20% 28% 16% 20% 23% 18% 14%

Somewhat satisfied 61 58 65 61 59 63 61

Somewhat
dissatisfied 14 10 16 15 13 14 17

Very dissatisfied 4 4 2 4 4 4 6

DK/NA 1 - 1 1 1 1 1

19. What do you think are the most important problems facing Connecticut today?